Bab 245: [Chapter 245] A young lady of appropriate age
The Earl of Islani didn't look pleased. He knew very well that the Crown Prince wouldn't like his daughter. Abelus only interacted with renowned beauties in the social circles.
And that was exactly what the Marquis of Rikeandros wanted. For a woman Abelus wouldn't like to fill the position of Crown Princess. The Marquis, with a smiling face, urged him for an answer.
"I believe your second daughter is still unmarried. What a wonderful thing it would be if it could be arranged. It's the most noble position in this country."
If it could be arranged.
The Marquis's words were unrealistic, and considering that Alekto had publicly criticized Megara recently, they didn't make sense. The Earl of Islani looked at the Marquis with wary eyes.
After a while, a reason why the Marquis might want to put Alekto in the position of Crown Princess came to mind.
'Is he trying to make her a figurehead?'
Even though all the unmarried young ladies from grand noble families had problems, Alekto wasn't the next in line. There were many ladies with better conditions than Alekto. Besides, Valentine wasn't directly involved in the crime of deceiving the Imperial Family that the current Duke had committed, so the Imperial Family wouldn't have completely erased him from the candidate list.
If Alekto suddenly became the Crown Princess in this situation, there would be talk for sure. Nobles who thought their daughters were better than Alekto would object, and the Crown Prince wouldn't like his new wife.
The Crown Princess was a noble position. But people in the social circles knew how to pay lip service while thoroughly tying someone's hands behind their back. Especially in a situation like this, where the Crown Prince's attention was focused on only one woman.
The woman the Marquis was recommending now wasn't someone who was suitable for the real Crown Princess position. She was just a scapegoat who had to sit in that position and endure a life of hardship.
The Earl, having thought that far, was enraged by the premise underlying the Marquis's proposal. The Marquis was certain that the Islani Earl's second daughter would obediently sacrifice herself. Despite her high status, with no legal flaws, she would be completely at the mercy of the Crown Prince's consort!
But who could say that his arrogant calculations were wrong? The current court was truly the world of the Marquis of Rikeandros and his daughter.
The Marquis watched the Earl tremble with cold eyes.
Of course, it was the Imperial Family's prerogative to ultimately decide on the Crown Princess. But with no clear candidates at the moment, if the Noble Council actively recommended a specific person, the Imperial Family would be more likely to consider it seriously.
The nobles the Marquis had recruited beforehand began to speak up one by one at the right time.
"Lady Alekto is fine too."
"I heard she was known for her intelligence at the Academy. I'm truly envious of you for having such a wonderful daughter."
It sounded like everything was already decided. The nobles present knew that the Marquis had already set the stage.
Then, the Duke of Grunehalz suddenly spoke up.
"Well, I don't know."
The nobles in the council room shut their mouths as if they had made a pact.
Of the three ducal families, the Ellandria family was originally the most prestigious. There was no one who could match the Ellandria family in terms of family history, wealth, or even the power of their in-laws. But things changed when the Wells family fell and their treason was revealed.
Of the remaining two ducal families, both the Duke and the Lesser Duke of Ganiello were avoiding public appearances due to health problems, and they were originally from a foreign family, so they were discriminated against.
So, the Grunehalz ducal family had become the most prestigious family among the nobles in the Imperial City. After Natasha failed to become the Crown Princess and disappeared, many of the flatterers who had originally been attached to the Duke disappeared, but the influence he had built up over the years remained.
And if the Duke of Grunehalz were to name the people he hated most in the world, the Marquis of Rikeandros and his daughter would definitely be in the top three. The other one was debatable, with some people saying it was Abelus and others disagreeing.
Even though the Marquis of Rikeandros had planted many of his own people in the court, he couldn't make the Duke of Grunehalz's opinion be ignored. The Duke, well aware of this fact, confidently continued.
"His Highness the Crown Prince isn't in a hurry to get married, so do we really need to offer a second-rate option just among ourselves?"
The Earl of Islani was a little upset that his daughter was being called a second-rate option. But he kept his mouth shut and continued to listen, wanting to see how things would play out.
The Earl of Kendal also chimed in.
"Most of the young ladies from the grand noble families in the country are either married or have problems. So, I agree with the Marquis of Rikeandros's intention that we should consider other options, but it's not something we need to rush into deciding without asking the parties involved, is it? And if we absolutely have to choose, it would be better to consider foreign princesses or duchesses who are no less than the grand noble ladies, wouldn't it?"
It was the right thing to say. A more principled statement, representing the interests of more people.
The atmosphere in the council room changed. Even though the Marquis of Rikeandros had recruited many people beforehand, he couldn't ignore the resolute attitude of the two grand nobles as if it were nothing. Especially since Alekto Islani's own father was showing a reluctant attitude.
In the end, the issue of the new Crown Princess was left ambiguous. As soon as the meeting ended, the Marquis of Rikeandros left, clearly showing his displeasure.
"Marquis…"
The Earl of Islani, who had intended to protest his behavior today, looked dumbfounded when the Marquis left like that. The Earl of Kendal spoke to him.
"Don't worry about it. Everything that happened today. People like the Marquis of Rikeandros don't know how agonizing it is for a daughter to become a victim of a power struggle."
He was standing before the man rumored to keep his dead daughter's body in his bedroom, the very victim of that power struggle. The Earl had originally intended to complain more openly, but he quietly shut his mouth. The Duke of Grunehalz approached him and patted him on the shoulder.
"I'm planning to have dinner with a few people at my house tonight. If you're free, would you come, Earl? It's a casual gathering, so don't feel pressured."
The Earl understood the meaning of the Duke's words. If you don't want something like today to happen again, join our faction, which is extending a hand to you.
The Earl of Islani wasn't a man who had a lot of affection for his children. He often had a gloomy face, shut himself up in his room, and was often displeased with his daughter, who would gloomily snap at her older sister and younger sister. And he knew that, normally, with the power of the Earl's family, it would be difficult to send his daughter to become the Crown Princess, let alone the mistress of a grand noble family.
So, if the anger he had felt reflexively towards the Marquis of Rikeandros, who had tried to use his daughter, had subsided, he might have changed his attitude. He might have been satisfied with the splendor of that throne, even if his daughter, who sat on the most precious seat in the world, withered away while shouting.
But seeing the faces of the two grand nobles, the Earl sensed that even if he decided to send his daughter to the Imperial Family, the path wouldn't be easy. He understood exactly why the two men, who hadn't interacted much before, had naturally come together today.
They were people who had gathered to bring down Megara and the Marquis of Rikeandros. To avenge their children for what they had suffered at Megara's hands.
Even if Alekto failed to become the Crown Princess, the Marquis of Rikeandros could choose another easy target among the noble ladies. But the Islani family would be in ruins by then.
The Earl of Islani, having made his decision, replied with a smile.
"It would be an honor, Your Grace."
****
"Achoo, achoo!"
Diane sneezed several times. It was unavoidable in this dusty cabin, but soon a complaint came flying.
"I told you to be quiet."
"No, I, achoo! I'm not doing this for fun, achoo!"
Talprin sighed.
When the assassins sent by the Marquis of Rikeandros ambushed the McKinnon family's carriage, the Shadow of the Night, who was among the escorts, detonated a magic bomb in coordination with Talprin. And they took Diane away, pretending she was dead.
It was a perfect escape, made possible because Talprin, who had infiltrated the Imperial City on Neris's orders, quickly detected the Marquis of Rikeandros's movements.
Neris and the McKinnon family had long ago agreed to take Diane to Maindelant so she could escape the Imperial Family's clutches when the time came. But they had made those plans last year, and the situation around the Imperial City had changed a lot since then, so Diane's trip to Maindelant inevitably had some uncertainties.
To minimize those uncertainties, Talprin prioritized Diane's rescue. In other words, he left behind all the McKinnon family servants he had taken with him during the ambush. And they traveled together, disguised.
That's where the problem started. Diane McKinnon was a pampered young lady.
It wasn't Diane's fault. She didn't complain once about the cheap clothes, the cheap inn, the cheap food, and the uncomfortable vibrations of the shared carriage, which she had never experienced before. But no matter how strong her will, she was a wealthy noble lady, and her health quickly deteriorated.
'So this is what happens.'
Talprin had a lot to do besides protecting Diane. According to his original plan, Diane should have been handed over to a low-ranking Shadow of the Night at one of the Night's strongholds hidden in the territories near the Imperial City by now. And she should have started heading towards Maindelant on the fastest carriage.
But what could he do? They were still not far from where Diane had been ambushed.
That was why they were hiding in this old, abandoned cabin in the woods, a place Diane would never have set foot in normally. It was thanks to Talprin's meticulous planning, otherwise, they wouldn't have even thought about breaking through the strict security measures imposed by the wartime.
After sneezing so much that tears streamed down her face, Diane suddenly slumped and said,
"I'm sorry."
Talprin raised his eyebrows.
Their current situation was a mess. But Talprin knew how precious a lady Diane was. He knew how well she looked when she was dressed up with the help of her maids and smiling confidently.
That was why he didn't like Diane's gloomy expression. It didn't suit her. It was Diane McKinnon who would get angry and shout at 'that' Neris.
"What's there to be sorry about?"
"If it weren't for me, you would have gotten out of here quickly."
"Then it would be meaningless. Don't worry about it, it's work."
Diane pursed her lips. Talprin had seen that expression on her face before. The expression she made when she came to Maindelant and heard Neris's cold words. An expression that seemed to say she was very upset but was determined to be strong.
Talprin was originally the kind of person who didn't care if others were gloomy or not. So, he didn't know how to comfort people. He would either be sarcastic or say nothing.
Not knowing what to say, he grumbled and asked,
"What made you trust me in the first place?"
Diane tilted her head at Talprin's question.
"Why?"
Why? You were being attacked by people whose identities you didn't even know. And then, suddenly, a man you'd never seen before appeared and asked you to come with him. Didn't you think it was a double trap?"
"No, I know you."
Diane said firmly. Talprin was taken aback. Of course, he had met Diane before and had even spoken to her. He had saved her from a fire and had even given her a handkerchief. But the disguise he was wearing then was different from the one he was wearing now.
"You're not mistaken?"
"You saved me in Dreicum."
Talprin had never met anyone in his life who could see through his disguises. Neris was one of them, granted. She was extraordinary. But to be seen through by this seemingly innocent young lady?
He was hurt. But on the other hand, he felt strangely… 'not bad.'
Summer sunlight streamed through the half-broken window of the cabin. The sunlight made Diane's eyes look like incredibly, incredibly bright and shining beads.
With those very eyes sparkling, Diane smiled brightly.
"Thank you for helping me so many times. I'm glad Liz sent you because she was worried about me. If I'm taken hostage, Mom, Dad, and my brother will all suffer. And if they find out I'm going to Liz, they'll suffer too. It's for me and the people around me, so I'll do my best too. I can handle more hardship, so let's use the best method you think!"
Talprin, who had been looking at her for a moment, suddenly spoke.
"…Then, would you consider doing this?"
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone